Raith Rovers striker Mark Stewart insists surgery is the quickest way back to fitness

Raith Rovers striker Mark Stewart admits surgery is his quickest route back to fitness after going under the knife to have his broken wrist mended.

The 28-year-old is facing a spell on the sidelines after having the procedure carried out but concedes having the operation is better than having to wear a cast for eight weeks.

Stewart, who has scored three goals in the last two games, suffered a break to his scaphoid bone during the October 22 win at Falkirk but managed to play in last weekend’s victory over Queen of the South wearing a protective sheath.

Stewart is set to miss Saturday’s Fife derby at Dunfermline but is hoping to make a quick recovery and get back playing in a Raith side that have climbed up to third in the Championship table.

He said: “I broke my wrist during the Falkirk game, I broke it at the start of the second half and I didn’t know. I ended up having to go to the hospital on the Sunday night.

“The operation is the quickest way to get back, it’s a straight-forward procedure. The wrist needs a bit of help to let it heal quicker rather wearing a cast. That would have kept me out for eight weeks.

“Hopefully after surgery I can still train.

“They wanted me in a cast for eight weeks but I didn’t want that because I didn’t want to miss a lot of games, it took me long enough to get in the team.”